Le Conseiller

Alberto De Martino obviously doesn't play in the same league as Francis Ford Coppola, and Martin Balsam clearly isn't Marlon Brando. And yet, of all the dozens of mafia thrillers that came out in the early 70s to cash in on the tremendous success of "The Godfather", this "Counselor at Crime" is definitely the one I would recommend the most! The plot is convoluted, and the massive overload of supportive characters often makes it difficult to keep overview, but the atmosphere is so gripping, and every single sequence is incredibly compelling.

Thomas Accardo (Milian) is the legal attorney, and simultaneously godson, of mob boss Don Antonio; - born and raised in Sicily but reigning over San Francisco. After serving a prison sentence for keeping his shut, Thomas wants out. By accepting his resignation, Don Antonio unwarily incites a violent gang war, as his first lieutenant Garofalo has been waiting for an excuse to go against his "Don". Garofalo and his henchmen fight a very mean and merciless war, but Don Antonio has loyal allies everywhere, and following a dramatically failed attempt to kills his girlfriend, Thomas returns to the family as Don Antonio's "counselor".

"Counselor at Crime" isn't a non-stop spitfire of violent shootouts and exhilarating car chases, like the later movies starring Maurizio Merli, but more of a "full-package" mafia thriller/Poliziotesschi. But apart from the multifaceted plot and detailed character studies, there certainly are a lot of shocking and uncompromising sequences, like a chef getting shoved into his own burning pizza oven or a harrowing bomb attack that kills an innocent child. I simply also must mention the downright stupendous - as always - Riz Ortolani score, and the fantastic performance by Francisco Rabal as the stone-cold gangster.

Albert De Martino's exciting, 'Il Consigliori' (1973) is a Bootstrap tough Italo-Iberian Mafioso actioner featuring, Martin Balsam as powerful San Francisco mob boss, Don Antonio Macaluso, and the feared Don's consigliori (lawyer), Thomas Accardo, is charismatically brought to the screen by the exalted Euro-crime alumni, Tomas Milian! After serving out his jail sentence, Accardo makes a seemingly optimistic choice to finally go straight, and happy to meet with his erstwhile employer, the stubborn lawyer wants out of the mob! While, Don Macaluso doesn't approve, he nonetheless reluctantly allows Accardo to go his own way. Unbeknownst to Don Antonio, the ambitious thug, Vincent Garafolo (Francisco Rabal), increasingly frustrated with the uneasy status quo, fatefully orchestrates his own crime family, thereby engendering a bloody conflict between the rival criminal factions.

Remaining loyal to the beleaguered Don, Thomas Accardo (Tomas Milian) girds his nattily dressed loins, and 'Armed to The Teeth, he courageously prepares to defend his Boss once again. This compelling crime-thriller is a stone groove from the get-go, boisterously replete with all the volatile elements of a gonzo poliziotteschi, plus the additionally entertaining tropes of a gritty mafia expose; dramatic sit-down meetings in restaurants, numerous sanguinary shoot-outs, two exhilarating car chases, and one especially righteous, bullet-blasted finale! The respectful relationship between the ageing Don and his loyal Consigliori is well realised, plus the sprawlingly urban San Francisco, and rural Sicily provides a visually striking contrast. Music maestro, Riz Ortolani provides yet another gorgeous soundtrack, and Albert De Martino ('Blazing Magnum') once again proves himself to be a very capable action director. 'Il Consigliori' comes highly recommended to Mob movie maniacs and Euro-crime enthusiasts alike!

Not my cup of tea at all, this Godfather clone. Milian is wasted in the role of the 'will he won't he' role as the reluctant son. reluctant that is after a prison sentence to return to the turgid business of defending the 'family', 'honour' and all that toss. Wasted also was the lovely Dagmar Lassander who does just about nothing, but then this is a little boys film so no place for women.

To be fair although I found all the stuff in San Francisco predictable and tedious (as well as silly and sentimental) when we switch to Sicily things do improve enormously. Whether its the streets and local colour or just tighter direction I'm not sure but I went from beginning to dose off to full attention. But just because the last 15 minutes or so is fine cannot salvage what was for me a very disappointing movie.

Martin Balsam, Tomas Milian, Francisco Rabal, three good actors, whom I have seen in many other movies, much better than this one. This is an incredible story with mobsters killing each other. Riz Ortolani's music, always of superior quality, is better than the movie.

Sure, the plot sails very close to the Godfather, but this is a great film nonetheless.

In San Francisco, a goon running a bowling alley has gone berserk and his arrest has made the Mafia very worried. This guy need taken out by Capo Martin Balsam wants it done clean and painlessly, and is annoyed to find that sidekick Francisco Rabal just hired a crooked cop to do it. This, and Balsam's decision to allow his godson Tomas Milian to leave the Mafia way of life, cause a gang war as Rabal goes rogue and starts his own gang.

Rabal goes too far and in trying to kill Milian (whom he still sees as a threat) he ends up killing a child instead. No child is ever safe in an Italian film, but at least Milian rejoins the Mafia to avenge her death. Girlfriend Dagmar Lassander isn't too happy about that though.

Balsam is an old school, respected mobster, so he has plenty of allies to help him out. Can he take back the business he's lost or will he and Milian have to go into exile? As Rabal says - no one walks away from that way of life...

The best thing about this film is Balsam's relationship with Milian - he genuinely seems to love the guy, showering him with affection and treating Lassander with laid back charm. Milian is more subdued as the godson but still makes his mark as the reluctant mobster.

This one is quite fast paced for an Alberto De Martino film, and he doesn't shy away from the violence either. The bittersweet ending made a mark on me too, and once again Martin Balsam proves that he was one of the true greats.